Fundraising Effort for Student Killed in Crash Exceeds $100K

Friends, family and fraternity brothers are remembering a Maryland undergraduate killed in a car crash on Sunday as an accomplished athlete and upbeat leader with a magnetic personality.

A GoFundMe campaign launched on Monday has already raised at least $100,000 in a GoFundMe campaign to help with wake and funeral expenses for Zachary Garcia, 21.

The campaign, organized by Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, was created Monday afternoon to honor Garcia. He was one of five people in a Toyota Camry that went off rain-slicked Interstate 70 in Fulton County, Pa., and overturned, Pennsylvania State Police said yesterday.

Garcia, who was wearing a seatbelt, was killed, while the four other men in the car, also members of Phi Gamma Delta, were sent to a hospital in Altoona, police said in a news release.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the affected students, their families, the men of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, and the many students on campus impacted by this tragic event,” said Matt Supple, director of the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life.

Garcia was a senior majoring in finance from Cresskill, N.J. He ran hurdles and played basketball in high school, and at Maryland enjoyed competing in sports. He had studied in Barcelona earlier this year, and interned over the summer at a real estate brokerage firm in New York City.

“His influence on our brotherhood and fraternity will never be forgotten,” said Phi Gamma Delta chapter President Dominick Favilla ’20. “His infectious smile, benevolent personality and overall ability to put a smile on everyone’s face has brightened the lives of every person he’s come in contact with.”

The fraternity created his GoFundMe page on Monday to help his family pay for funeral expenses. More than 1,800 people contributed in the first 24 hours.

“The GoFundMe activity has been such a testament to the tremendous impact Zac has had on everyone he touched,” said fraternity brother Jared Nozick ’18.